Anheuser-Busch InBev intends to layoff 1,400 salaried workers in its beer-related divisions, or around 6 percent of the company's U. S. work force.

According to an estimate, about 75% of the affected workers, or 1,050, are based in St. Louis or its Sunset Hills campus. Out of which most are engineers, information technology workers and hold other corporate positions.

However, Anheuser-Busch InBev will provide employees severance pay and pension benefits based on age and years of service. The employees will be offered the outplacement services as well.

The latest job cuts are in addition to the more than 1,000 U. S. salaried employees countrywide, who accepted the company's buyout and retirement offers. Market analysts expect that, the retirements and job cuts are part of the brewer's plan, dubbed Blue Ocean, to slash $1 billion in costs.

Last month, Belgian brewer InBev completed its $52 billion acquisition of St. Louis-based Anheuser Busch.

A company official stated that most of the job cuts will occur by the end of the year, with the remainder scheduled for 2009.